Magnetic spring system for use in a resonant motor

ABSTRACT

A magnetic spring arrangement for a resonant motor, comprising: a housing ( 12 ), magnets ( 14, 16 ) fixed in position at opposing ends ( 13, 15 ) of the housing, a magnet ( 18 ) positioned within the housing for movement toward and away from the fixed magnets in a reciprocal oscillating motion with a driving action produced by a stator coil ( 24 ) and an AC drive signal ( 26 ), wherein an applicator member ( 32 ) is attachable to the moving magnet for corresponding movement of a workpiece portion ( 34 ) of the applicator member.

This application claims the benefit or priority of and describesrelationships between the following applications: wherein thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/808,486, filed Jun. 16, 2010, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,970,072,which is the National Stage Application of International Application No.PCT/IB2008/054837, filed Nov. 18, 2008, which claims the priority ofU.S. Provisional patent application 61/015071 filed Dec. 19, 2007, allof which are incorporated herein in whole by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to resonant motors which produce anoscillating output action, and more particularly concerns such a motorusing magnetic action as an alternative to conventional springs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In resonant motors which produce an oscillating output action, metalsprings are part of the motor contributing to the action. However, aftera large number of successive uses, the springs develop metal fatigue,resulting in reduced performance and eventual breakage. The problem ofmetal fatigue in the springs is particularly prevalent in systems whichoperate at high frequency and hence have a large number of stresscycles. In addition, metal springs have space limitations relative to adesired output stroke, since for a given degree of desired movement,i.e. 1 millimeter, for example, of a workpiece, approximately five timesthat distance is required between the opposing masses for the mechanicalsprings.

It would hence be desirable to have a motor arrangement which produces adesired motor output but without having major components which aresubject to fatigue stresses and failures.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a resonant linear motor, using a magnetic spring system,comprising: a housing; two permanent magnets fixedly positioned atopposing ends of the housing; and at least one permanent magnetpositioned in the housing for movement toward and away from each endmagnet in a reciprocal oscillating motion, wherein the polarities of themoving magnet oppose the polarities of the fixed magnets, wherein aworkpiece assembly is attachable to the moving magnet, and extends outthrough one of the fixed magnets, for linear movement thereof, inresponse to a driving action for the motor.

Also disclosed is a resonant motor using a magnetic spring system foroscillating rotational action, comprising: a housing; a center elementmounted for rotation about a central axis, the center element havingmagnets positioned on opposing sides thereof with opposing polaritiesfacing outwardly therefrom, wherein the center element has a workpieceassembly extending therefrom for rotational action of the workpiece;fixed magnets positioned adjacent an outer surface of the centerelement; and a drive assembly with an AC drive signal for driving thecenter element, wherein the polarities of the fixed magnets are suchrelative to the polarities of the magnets on the center element, thatthere is a magnetic interaction between the fixed magnets and themounted magnets, resulting in an oscillation of the center element, themotor characterized by the absence of mechanical springs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a motor system andapplication using magnetic action as an alternative to springs.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the motor system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the motor system.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of a magnetic action motorsystem with radial magnet placement.

FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B are elevational views of a magnetic action motorusing axially positioned magnets.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a linear motor 10 which includes a magnetic actionarrangement as an alternative to the conventional metal spring action toaccomplish a linear output motion. The motor 10 includes a housing 12which in the embodiment shown is in the form of a tube, although itcould have other cross-sectional configurations. Fixedly mounted at therespective ends 13 and 15 of the housing are permanent magnets 14, 16,in the form of discs, having north and south polarity faces, as shown.One magnet 14 has its north polarity facing outward from end 13 of thehousing, while the opposing magnet 16 has an opposing arrangement, i.e.the south polarity faces outwardly from end 15 of housing 12.

A third magnet 18 is positioned internally of the housing betweenmagnets 14 and 16. The north polarity face of magnet 18 faces the northpolarity of magnet 16 in a repelling action, while the south polarityface of magnet 18 faces the south polarity of magnet 14, also in arepelling mode. Magnets 14, 16 and 18 are conventional permanentmagnets, and in the embodiment shown are discs of magnetic materialapproximately 4 mm thick, although this dimension can be varied.

Magnet 18 is positioned for sliding movement within housing 12. In oneembodiment, a sliding linear bearing 22 is used, but other types oflinear bearings can also be used. The linear bearing 22 reduces energyloss, i.e. by friction, during the movement of magnet 18 within thehousing during operation of the motor.

A coil 24 is wrapped around the outside of housing 22 in the vicinity ofthe moving magnet 18 when it is at rest. For instance, coil 24 could beapproximately midway along the length of the housing, although this isnot necessary to the operation of the apparatus. Coil 24 is driven by anAC signal source 26, which actuates the moving magnet in an oscillatingmanner along the housing between magnets 14 and 16, although magnet 18will typically not contact magnets 14 and 16 due to the magneticrepelling action between them. The magnetic action simulates two metalsprings positioned between three masses (2 fixed, 1 moving) in thehousing.

Thus, coil 24 functions like a stator in a conventional motor, whilemoving magnet 18 functions as an armature. Other arrangements to movemagnet 18 within the housing could be used. In operation, the AC currentprovided by circuit 26 actuates the moving magnet 18 in an oscillatingmanner, such that as the magnet is driven in one direction, it comesclose to the magnet at that end of the housing, at which point it isrepelled, and the AC drive signal reverses, moving magnet 18 in theother direction. This action is repeated continuously for as long as theAC signal is provided.

The frequency of the AC signal is set to be near the resonant frequencyof the spring mass system which in this case is the mass of the movingmagnet and the repulsion force between the magnets, which is similar tothe spring action as the springs compress and expand in operation. Themoving magnet 18 will achieve a peak amplitude (movement) at the pointof the system's greatest efficiency, i.e. at or near the spring massresonant frequency of the spring mass system. Typically, this could be±30 Hz or closer.

The motor discussed above can have a number of applications. Forinstance, in FIG. 1, one of the magnets, e.g. magnet 16, could be a ringmagnet 29, with a central opening 31. This permits an actuator arm 32 tobe connected to the moving magnet 18 and extend from the end of thehousing. At the end of actuator arm 32 is a workpiece 34. Actuator arm32 is typically supported within ring magnet 16 by a bearing, whichpermits linear motion of the actuator arm. Various linear workapplications can be carried out with such an arrangement. For instance,workpiece 34 could be a brushhead, providing a linear toothbrush action.Other linear actions could be accomplished, such as a high-speed firingaction, or used in various toys, including a pogo stick or trampoline,or in other appliances requiring a linear movement. A significantadvantage of the above motor arrangement is the elimination of certainparts, e.g. metal springs, subject to fatigue, although the linearbearing may be subject to some wear.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment which includes a housing 33, and twomagnets with opposing polarities 35 and 37 at the opposing ends 39, 41of the housing. In this embodiment, however, there are two magnets 42,44 positioned within housing 33. This produces the effect of threemagnetic springs within the housing. The embodiment also includes a coil43 around the exterior of housing 33, along with an AC drive signalsource 45. The polarities of the magnets are arranged such that themoving magnets are repelled at both faces thereof The advantage of thissystem is that the opposing movement of the two moving magnets cancelsvibration. The system of FIG. 3 is driven at a frequency at or near (±30Hz or closer) the resonant frequency of the spring mass system toachieve the most efficient driving arrangement.

The motor of FIGS. 1-3 can have various configurations. It can besomewhat elongated, as shown, or short and wider. With this magneticmotor arrangement, the stroke length that is desired for the workpiececan be approximately the same as the length of the magnetic spring, i.e.the distance between the moving magnet and the end magnets. Hence, thereis not the space requirement of a conventional steel spring arrangement.

Besides producing a linear workpiece motion, the system can be arrangedwith magnetic action to accomplish a rotational output motion as well.Two such embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is across-sectional diagram of one arrangement for rotational action inwhich magnets are positioned radially. A center element 50 has twomagnets 52, 54 on opposing sides thereof, one magnet 52 having a northpolarity facing outwardly, while the opposing magnet 54 has a southpolarity facing outwardly. Positioned adjacent the center element 50 aretwo fixed permanent magnets 58 and 60. In equilibrium, magnet 58 has itssouth pole aligned in attraction with the north pole of magnet 52, whilefixed magnet 60 has its north pole aligned in attraction with the southpole of magnet 54. This arrangement is based on magnetic attraction,i.e. the magnets tend to align as shown. A stator assembly and an ACsignal circuit (not shown) drive center element 52 rotationally, in anoscillating manner about center axis 62, away from the equilibriumposition shown in FIG. 4. The frequency of the AC drive signal is setnear to or at the resonant frequency of the spring-mass system to givemaximum efficiency.

FIG. 5 shows another rotational arrangement. Mounted on the centerelement 66, which is mounted for rotation on axis 72, are two opposingpermanent magnets 68, 70. Magnet 68 has its north pole facing outwardly,while magnet 70 has its south pole facing outwardly. Fixedly positionedat spaced points around the periphery of center element 66 are fourpermanent magnets 76, 77, 78 and 79. The position of magnets 76 and 77is the mirror image of magnets 78 and 79. The angle between magnets 76and 77 is in the range of 1-30°; the angle between magnets 78 and 79 isthe same. The angle between the magnets will be determined based on theamplitude of motion desired. A 5°-30° range will accommodate a range ofamplitude from 1°-15°. Higher amplitudes will require greater angles. Inthis arrangement, magnets 76 and 77 will have their north poles facingtoward center element 66, while opposing magnets 78 and 79 will havetheir south poles facing center element 66. The equilibrium position ofthis arrangement is shown in FIG. 5, with the north pole of magnet 68being equidistant between magnets 76 and 77 and the south poleequidistant between magnets 78 and 79, respectively.

As with the arrangement of FIG. 4, FIG. 5 will be driven with a statorcircuit and an AC drive signal, which will oscillate the center element66 through a specific angle. The interaction between magnets on thecenter element and the fixed magnets will tend to return the centerelement toward its equilibrium position shown in FIG. 5 from each endpoint of oscillation. The arrangement of FIG. 5, as well as thearrangements of FIGS. 1-3, and the arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7A/7Bwhich are yet to be described, is efficient, and further has theadvantage that as the amplitude (the angle) of rotation increases,closing the magnetic gap, the spring rate of the spring mass systemincreases as well, which has advantages in that the system will selflimit at the amplitude which produces a resonant frequency close to thedrive frequency.

Workpiece elements can be mounted to the center element in theembodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 for rotational action. Examples ofrotational action applications include toothbrushes, stirring devicesand massagers, among others.

FIGS. 6 and 7A and 7B show additional embodiments for rotational action,with axial placement of the fixed magnets. In FIG. 6, a centercylindrical element 84 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis 86. Atthe ends 92, 94 of center element 84 are permanent magnets 88 and 90.Magnet 88 has its south pole facing outwardly, while magnet 90 has itsnorth pole facing outwardly. Positioned adjacent the respective ends 92and 94 of center element 84 are fixed permanent magnets 96 and 98.Magnet 96 has its south pole facing the adjacent south pole of magnet88, while magnet 98 has its north pole adjacent the north pole of magnet90. Center element 84 has a threaded portion 100 along its length withan external nut element 102 which is fixed in position. This arrangementworks similar to the arrangement of FIG. 5, i.e. in a magnetic repulsionmode. As a stator element driven by an AC source rotates the centerelement, the thread and nut arrangement permit full rotation of thecenter element, tending to hold the center element in position while itis rotated. When the AC drive signal decreases in amplitude, therepulsion between the closely adjacent pair of one fixed magnet and onecenter element mounted magnet tends to provide assistance for reversingrotation of the center element as the AC signal goes to the opposingpolarity.

FIG. 7A shows a magnetic repulsion arrangement, while FIG. 7B shows amagnetic attraction arrangement for another embodiment. In each case, aplate 110, with mounted magnets 112 and 114 is fixedly positioned toground, i.e. the housing of the appliance, while plate 116 with magnets118 and 110 is free to rotate as shown. A stator coil and drive assembly(not shown) rotates arm 122 which is connected to the moving plate 116.An output shaft 124 extends from arm 122, rotating with arm 122 toprovide rotational work by means of a workpiece 126.

It is known that, unlike metal springs, magnets have a non-linearresponse, which can be disadvantageous in certain applications. In theabove embodiments, a multiplicity of magnets can be used, or magnets ofdifferent strengths, to reduce the non-linear spring effect created bythe magnets.

Accordingly, a magnetic spring arrangement for an oscillating resonantmotor has been disclosed. The magnetic spring arrangement, with a statorand an AC drive circuit, produces the required oscillation for a desiredlinear stroke or a desired angle of rotation without mechanical springs.In this arrangement, the spring rate of the system is controllable byeither adjusting the spacing of the magnets, i.e. the distance betweenthe magnets, or by changing the size or strength of the magnets. Thisresults in a change of amplitude of the linear stroke or rotationalmotion at a given drive frequency. The motor can produce either linearor rotational output motion to accomplish a variety of specificapplications. In addition to rotational and linear output modes, thearrangement can be used to operate as a pump, with one or more inputsand outputs with valves on opposing sides of moving magnets, such as inthe embodiments of FIGS. 1-3. The pump can move fluid in either or bothdirections of the stroke of the moving magnet.

Although preferred embodiments of the above-identified application havebeen disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understoodthat various changes, modifications and substitutions may beincorporated in the embodiments without departing from the spirit of theinvention which is defined by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A resonant motor using a magnetic spring systemfor oscillating rotational action, comprising: a housing; a cylindricalcenter element mounted for rotation about a central axis, the centerelement having mounted magnets contained within the center element andpositioned on opposing portions thereof with opposing polarities facingoutwardly therefrom, wherein the center element has a workpiece assemblyextending therefrom for rotational action of the workpiece; fixed outermagnets positioned adjacent an outer surface of the center element; anda drive assembly with an AC drive signal for driving the center element,wherein the polarities and the position of the fixed outer magnets aresuch relative to the polarities of the magnets on the center element,that there is a magnetic interaction between the fixed magnets and themounted magnets, resulting in an oscillation of the center element, themotor characterized by the absence of mechanical springs, wherein thefixed magnets and the mounted magnets are positioned in an axialrelationship, wherein the center element is threaded over at least aportion of its length, with an exterior fixed nut which engages thecenter element threads so as to permit a full rotation of the centerelement against the repulsion of the fixed magnets relative to themounted magnets.
 2. The motor of claim 1, wherein the workpiece is abrushhead for cleaning teeth.
 3. The motor of claim 1, wherein themagnetic interaction is repulsion.